nor reforme the affections, but sound doctrine, and wholesome nourish∣ment. For no more is the Minister bound to preach the Word in the de∣monstration of the Spirit and power, plainly and profitably, then the peo∣ple to hunger after the sincere milke of the Word, and the wholesome food of their soules, which is fit to nourish them vnto euerlasting life. Thirdly, we must heare the Word with alacrity and cheerfulnesse, seeing as the Lord loueth a cheerfull giuer, so a cheerfull receiuer and hearer, and in all duties especially requireth the seruice of the heart. The which we shall the better doe, if we consider that the Word is the spirituall seed whereby we are regenerate and begotten vnto God, the food of our soules which preserueth spirituall strength, and nourisheth them to life eternall, the light that guideth vs in the way of saluation, the physicke that cureth vs of our corruptions, the meanes of working in vs all spirituall graces, and of assuring vnto vs euerlasting happinesse. Fourthly, wee must bring faith to the hearing of Gods Word, without which it will profit vs no∣thing, as the Apostle speaketh. By which faith we doe not onely stedfastly beleeue those things which are soundly deliuered out of Gods Word, but also effectually apply them vnto our selues for our owne particular vse, as if they were spoken to none but vs. And thus wee must apply the threat∣nings of the Law for our humiliation, that wee may escape Gods Iudge∣ments, instructions for our information, admonitions and reprehensions for our repentance and amendment; counsels for our direction, and con∣solations for our comfort. By which application we make the food of our soules our peculiar nourishment, for the begetting and increasing of all Gods graces in vs. Fifthly, we must heare the Word with humility, sub∣mitting our selues vnto it as Gods ordinance and Scepter of his King∣dome, to be ruled and gouerned, directed and instructed, admonished and reproued by it, that so it may bee mighty in vs to cast downe the strong holds of sinne, and to make way for Gods graces against all oppo∣sitions of carnall reason, and proud will. Finally, wee must heare with a good conscience, propounding vnto our selues in this religious duty, the glory of God as our maine end, that knowing his will, we may serue him, in yeelding vnto it intire and sincere obedience; and next vnto it, our owne saluation, by being edified thereby in our most holy faith, and more and more inriched with all sanctifying and sauing graces. And to the end that we may daily profit in attaining vnto these ends, we must labour not onely to conceiue and vnderstand what we heare, but also to apply it vnto our owne vse for the sanctifying of our hearts and affections, and not to heare it as an vnprofitable discourse, suffering it to goe out at the one eare, as it commeth in at the other, but to lay it vp in faithfull memories, that we may bring forth the fruits of it in our liues and conuersations. To which end we must carefully obserue the Preachers method and order; as the coherence of his Text with that which went before, and followeth after, the maine drift and scope of the holy Ghost in that Scripture, the explication and meaning of the words; the diuision of the Text into its seuerall parts and branches; the maine poynts of doctrine which are ga∣thered out of them seuerally and in order, how they are proued by Scrip∣tures, or reasons grounded on them, illustrated by similitudes, and in∣forced